StopStu’s Selections Of Great Stores for Outdoor Gear, Equipment, and Supplies:
Outdoor Gear can be expensive. And that’s why I’ve developed a healthy approach to shopping. Before I buy anything, I always compare prices across multiple stores to confirm the best price, lowest shipping fees, etc.
The following stores are a few of my favorites where I’ve found the best pricing for gear across a multitude of outdoor sports.
Best Stores for Outdoor Gear & Supplies
Whether it’s Trail Running, Trekking, Backpacking, Downhill Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Snowshoeing, Climbing, of Whitewater Sports, odds are you can find most of the gear for the best prices and at one of the following locations.
KEY FEATURES I LOOK FOR:
- Overall Price (cost of product, taxes, and shipping)
- Free Shipping
- Benefits of Buying From That Store.
REI
REI (Founded in 1938) is the industry standard for stores dedicated to selling the best outdoor gear, equipment, and supplies for just about any Outdoor Sport. And they’ve typically got the best customer support and gear specialists in the industry.
PROS: FREE shipping, quarterly 20% off discounts, and 10% back dividen on full-priced purchases.
CONS: Most products from REI are atleast 10-20% higher in price over anywhere else.
MOOSEJAW
MOOSEJAW (Founded in 1992) was purchased by Walmart in 2017 and has quickly been expanding to compete with REI. Often times, if you can’t find something at REI, you can find it Moosejaw, and vice versa. Prices are about the same for both.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $49, quarterly 20% off discounts, and 10% back dividen on full-priced purchases.
CONS: Smaller inventory than REI
BACKCOUNTRY
Backcountry.com (Founded in 1997) is an Online Store that has quickly grown to be a major competitor with REI and Moosejaw. And prices are about the same, but benefits are a little less than REI and Moosejaw with their Point System, but occasionally I will find a product priced for less.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $50 and less than ~5% back on purchases w/their point system.
CONS: Benefits are less than REI and Moosejaw
EVO
Evo (Founded in 2001) started as an online store in 2001 and has expanded to a handful of storefront locations. Though they don’t do all the membership benefits found at their chief competitors, they do typically have lower prices on their products and better sales.
I’ve purchased a lot from EVO.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $50 and typically lower pricing
CONS: No Member benefits
TRADEINN
TRADEINN (Founded in 1997) is another online store for outdoor sporting goods that is based out of Spain. They are enormous and you can typically find ANYTHING with TradeInn. And typically, they have the best prices.
PROS: Lowest prices anywhere even with the expensive shipping, enormous inventory of products.
CONS: Products sell-out fast, expensive shipping since they are coming from overseas, no member benefits. Sometimes VERY clunky websites during checkouts, espoecially if using poor interent connections.
MOUNTAIN HIGH OUTFITTERS
MOUNTAIN HIGH OUTFITTERS (Founded in 1999) is a Southern US based outdoors gear store with more than a dozen locations.
You have to spend nearly $100 for Free shipping, but occasionally they’ll sell products for better prices than their competitors.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $95, occasionally have sales with prices that can beat other major online stores
CONS: no membership benefits.
AMAZON
AMAZON (Founded in 1994) needs no introduction.
Just know that one can find some great outdoor gear and supplies for some really great prices and often at zero shipping costs.
PROS: FREE shipping for Prime Members or on orders of $35 or more. Competitive prices, best return policy of any store anywhere.
CONS: no membership rewards
WALMART
AMAZON (Founded in 1962) needs no introduction, either.
Just know that one can find some great outdoor gear and supplies for some really great prices and often at zero shipping costs.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders of $35 or more. Competitive prices, second best return policy of any store anywhere.
CONS: no membership rewards. 3rd-party vendors and product descriptions can be very confusing and lacking in information and photos unlike its competitor, Amazon.
More Stores for Outdoor Gear
Here are a few more stores that might have what you’re looking for and at very competitive prices.
Whether it’s Trail Running, Trekking, Backpacking, Downhill Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Snowshoeing, Climbing, of Whitewater Sports, there’s a good chance one of these stores may have what you’re looking for and at a better price than one of the abeforementioned locations.
KEY FEATURES I LOOK FOR:
- Overall Price (cost of product, taxes, and shipping)
- Free Shipping
- Benefits of Buying From That Store.
STEEP & CHEAP (Backcountry.com)
SAC is an offshoot of Backcountry.com where deals for Outdoor Gear get even better.
Like MOUNTAIN STEALS and REI OUTLET, they offeer. alof of really great deals on products with as much as 70% off
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $50 and less than ~5% back on purchases w/their point system.
CONS: Benefits are less than REI and Moosejaw
MOUNTAIN STEALS (Moosejaw)
Mountain Steals is an offshoot of Mooesejaw, and as of 2017, are both now apart of Walmart.
Like SAC and REI OUTLET, they offeer. alof of really great deals on products with as much as 70% off
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $49, quarterly 20% off discounts, and 10% back dividen on full-priced purchases.
CONS: Smaller inventory than REI
SUNNYSPORTS
SUNNYSPORTS (Founded in 1995) as an online retailer. They latera dded a storefront in New York City.
They also offer great prices on. alot of gear and do sales often.
PROS: FREE shipping for orders over $50, Great deals and pricing, 6% discount for Military, First Responders, Students, and Veterans
CONS: no membership rewards
CAMPSAVER
CAMPSAVER (Founded in 2003) is another online retailer with a recently opened, in 2022, storefront location in Nibley, UT
Just know that one can find some great outdoor gear and supplies for some really great prices and often at zero shipping costs.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders of $49 or more. FREE returns. Competitive prices. 5% back rewards on all full-priced purchases.
CONS: none
ALPINE SKIING GEAR
Having the right pack for the right conditions I’m running makes all teh difference in the world. Key features I look for are quality of materials and construction, comfort & fit, accessability, and size.
KEY FEATURES I LOOK FOR:
- Quality of materials and Construction
- Comfort and Fit
- Accessability of Features
- Size
CHRISTY SPORTS
CHRISTY SPORTS (Founded in 1958) in Colorado and has expanded to more than 60+ locations all over the Western US.
They have friendly staff, a vast inventory, competitive pricing, and sales often!
I’ll never forget receiving a pair of skis I bought from them online. It included a short but very nice personal note “thanking me” for my purchase and wishing me “a great season.” That was a REALLY nice touch, which is so uncommon these days. -Thank you Christy! -Stu
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $50. Great Customer Service, inventory and supply, and competitive pricing.
CONS: none
START HAUS
START HAUS (Founded in 2004) is storefront and online store business out of Truckee, CA (Lake Tahoe Basin).
Start Haus offers its customers a unique perspective of expertise not typically available at your average stores like REI. Its a business build by competitive and Expert skiers for competitive and expert skiers, but does NOT exclude those who seek to take their skiing to the next level.
Their friendly employees are a great source of info and expertise to help you reach tha tnext level.
PROS: Superior customer service and expertise, best place for waxings and repair work, occasionally really great sales with very competitive pricing
CONS: no free shipping
POWDER7
POWDER7 (Founded in 2007) with an online store and warehouse out of Golden, Colorado.
Powder7 is another really great resource for Alpine Skiing gear and supplies. They have friendly staff with great information on all things skiing. They have an enormous industry with competitive pricing and plenty of sales, but gear sells out fast.
PROS: FREE shipping for new skis and orders over $80. Huge inventory, competitive pricing,
CONS: none
THE HOUSE
THE HOUSE (Founded in 1982) has a storefront out of St. Paul, Minnesota, and boasts an inventory of over 65,000 products.
With such a wide selection of gear, The House often has plenty of inventory and plenty of sales with really competitive pricing. They’ve got great customer service and they are easily accessible by phone or email!
PROS: FREE shipping on orders of $50 or more. Competitive prices with lots of sales.
CONS: none
NORDIC SKIING GEAR
Having the right pack for the right conditions I’m running makes all teh difference in the world. Key features I look for are quality of materials and construction, comfort & fit, accessability, and size.
KEY FEATURES I LOOK FOR:
- Quality of materials and Construction
- Comfort and Fit
- Accessability of Features
- Size
PIONEER MIDWEST
PIONEER MIDWEST (Expanded in 2015) is an online store for Cross Country (Nordic) skiing eqipment and supplies with a storefront out of Osseo, Minnesota.
They offer a vast inventory of industry-leading brands and models for Skate Skiing, Classic Skiing, and Dry-land Training.
I’ve bought a lot of gear from them because they tend to have some of the best deals in the country and great customer service experiences! But they also tend to have the sizes and types of gear I’m seeking where-as other places always seem to run out of stock.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $100, very friendly, knoledgeable, and accessible (By pohone or email) staff.
CONS: none
PACO'S BIKE & SKI
PACO’s BIKE & SKI (Founded in 1980) is a Truckee, CA (Lake Tahoe Basin) based store and has become the leading retailer in the region for everything Cross-Country (Nordic) Skiing. They’ve expanded to another storefront in Sacramento, CA.
I still have my original Fischer Skate Skis purchased directly from Paco back in 1998. Since that time, the store and brand have passed to new owner, Russell Hambly, who has since expanded the store, an ecommerce platform, and a new location in Sacramento.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders over $50, occasionally have sales with competitive pricing.
CONS: none
XC SKI HQ
CROSS COUNTRY SKI HQ (Founded in 1974) is based out of Higgins Lake, Roscommon, Michigan.
They have a huge inventory of gear and supplies for Skate Skiing, Classic Skiing, and Roller Skiing. And they often have sales with some really great deals!
PROS: FREE shipping on orders $199 or more. Competitive prices.
CONS: none
SKIRACK
SKIRACK (Founded in 1969) with multiple storefronts out of Burlington, Vermont
They have a decent inventory with occasional deals that beats its competitors.
PROS: FREE shipping on orders of $75 or more.
CONS: inventory is smaller and pricing isn’t as competitive.
WHITEWATER RAFTING GEAR
Having the right pack for the right conditions I’m running makes all teh difference in the world. Key features I look for are quality of materials and construction, comfort & fit, accessability, and size.
KEY FEATURES I LOOK FOR:
- Quality of materials and Construction
- Comfort and Fit
- Accessability of Features
- Size
4CRS
4CRS (Founded in 1980s), aka: 4Corners Riversports is an online store with a sorefront located in Durango, Colorado along the Animas River.
They have a massive inventory of whitewater gear for rafters, kayakers, and SUP boarders. They also offer repair work, rentals, and river skills instruction from their location in Durango.
PROS: FREE shipping on NON-OVERSIZED orders over $99, 15% off gear when pourchased with a new raft of kayak, Price-Match Policy.
CONS: None
CKS ONLINE
CKS ONLINE, aka: Colorado Kayak Supply (Founded in 2008) is an online store and warehouse based out of Steamboat Springs, CO along the Yampa River.
They have an impressive and vast inventory of whitewater gear and supplies for both all types of whitewater enthusiasts from rafters to kayakers.
PROS: Point System Rewards Program for regular shoppers (roughly 5% back), FREE Shipping for NON-OVERSIZED orders over $49 excluding items oversized items such as rafts and kayaks. Huge inventory and competitive pricing.
CONS: none
NRS
NRS, or the Northwest River Supplies company (Founded in 1972) is located in Moscow, Idaho.
NRS is the most familiar Whitewater Rafting Supplies company in the industry and for good reason. Their innovation in materials and designs can be attributed not just to their rafts, but also paddles, pumps, rigging, safety gear, etc.
PROS: Vast inventory, occasional sales, and currently providing FREE shipping on all orders for a limited time (as of May ’22).
CONS: none
HYSIDE
HYSIDE (Founded in 1950) and based out of Layton, UT
One of the two industry leaders in the Whitewater Industry, Hyside, arguably has made the most reliable and highest quality rafts in the industry. Much of their material and design innovations started with making pontoon bridges and rafts for the military.
They also have a really great storefront that was just opened in the Summer of 2022
PROS: 10% off gear and accesories with the purchase of a raft.
CONS: none